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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 20, 1986)
Monday, October 20, 1986 Daily Nebraskan Page 7 'Ciena J1Y By Chuck Green Sports Editor A Tl T7"TT Tl its recoffdi as jaiMSJseffs m. Dale Klein probably wishes he played Mis souri more than once a year. Nebraska's junior place kicker from Seward set a National Collegiate Athletic Association single-game record against the Tigers last sea son when he connected on seven of seven field goal attempts for 21 points. Nebraska won last year's contest, 28-20. Klein didn't turn in a performance quite like last year's in Saturday's 48-17 Nebraska win, but he did manage to set another record: Klein's first field goal was his 23rd, which broke Nebraska's record for career field goals. The old record was 22 by Billy Todd. "I don't really think about that," Klein said of the record. "I just try to do .my job and not make any mistakes. As long as I do my job, the team should win hopefully." In addition to the two field goals, Klein was five-for-five on extra point attempts. He even made a tackle on a kickoff late in the third quarter. "To tell you the truth, he ran into me," Klein said of the play. However, Klein wasn't the only player on Nebraska's team who did his job. Cornhusker quarterback Steve Taylor completed six of 12 passes for 101 yards and rushed for six more yards. I-back Keith Jones carried the ball 15 times for 73 yards and two touchdowns. Wing back DanaBrinson carried the ball four times for 83 yards, including a 63-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. Brinson also pulled down a 9-yard pass. Nebraska generated 524 yards of total offense, 414 of which came on the ground. Add it all up and the Huskers had a "pretty good day," according to Nebraska coach Tom Osborne. "I was generally pleased with the way every thing went today," Osborne said. "The first quar ter was a little discouraging because they (Mis souri) held the ball for so long. They did some things we weren't prepared for, and they have a lot of capable athletes. "I thought over a period of time we were able to adjust." It didn't take too long. After Missouri took the opening kickoff and drove 68 yards in 16 plays, Tiger kicker Tom Whelihan booted a 29-yard field goal with 8:38 remaining in the first quarter to put Missouri ahead, 3-0. After Nebraska failed to gain a first down on its first possession, the Huskers punted and Missouri had the ball on their own 8-yard line. "We did a few things they weren't ready for on our first drive," Missouri coach Woody Widen hofer said, "but then they adjusted." Nebraska's defensive adjustments allowed Missouri only 26 yards of offense for the remainder of the first half after Missouri's opening drive. Nebraska's second possession produced 37 yards in 11 plays, capped by Klein's record setting field goal with 14:19 remaining in the second quarter. The kick tied the game, 3-3. Eighteen seconds later, Missouri tailback Darrell Wallace fumbled and Nebraska reco vered at the Missouri 31-yard line. Five plays later, Klein gave the Huskers a 6-3 lead on a 21-yard field goal with 1 1:18 left in the first half. From there, Nebraska's defense controlled the Tigers. The next four Missouri drives netted only five yards of offense and the Tigers commit ted two more turnovers. "Those turnovers gave Nebraska opportunities to score," Widenhofer said. "If we didn't do that, it might have been closer at the half." Nebraska increased its lead with 7:19 remain ing in the second quarter when Jones scored on a 10-yard run to finish an eight-play, 42-yard drive. Fullback Ken Kaelin then ran 28 yards for another touchdown with seconds remaining before intermission. Klein's conversion increased Nebraska's lead to 20-3 at halftime. Jones scored again at the start of the third quarter on a 1-yard run. Just under two minutes later, Brinson took the ball on a reverse and ran 63 yards untouched to increase Nebraska's lead to 33-3 with 8:06 left in the third quarter. Klein's extra point made the score 34-3. Knox closed out the third quarter scoring with a 2-yard run with 3:52 remaining in the third quarter. After Klein kicked his fifth extra point of the game, the score was 41-3. Knox began the fourth-quarter scoring. With Nebraska back at its 8-yard line after a 44-yard punt by Whelihan and a fumble on the return by Brinson, Osborne called Knox's number again. "It was a 48-roll play," Knox said. "It's like a pitch play but it doesn't go as wide. When I got the pitch, 1 guess the defense figured it was going to be a wide play." The play, though, didn't go as wide as Missouri probably had hoped. Knox took the ball, started to the right, cut back to the left and cut upfield. A few seconds and 92 yards later, the Huskers led 47-3. Gregg Barrios added the extra point. "I saw everything flowing to the left side so I just kind of cut back to the right," Knox said. "All I saw was green field and a couple guys coming in pursuit. "I didn't want to get caught because I didn't think I could deal with the rest of the guys in the locker room." Knox probably dealt with them pretty well. The 5-11, 218-pound sophomore I-back who was converted to fullback last spring and returned to his usual position Tuesday, led all rushers with 127 yards and two touchdowns on only eight carries. "Tyreese Knox gives us a little punch at I back that was lacking," Osborne said. "He's definitely one of the top two (I-backs). He'll get V If K. V - 9-- I f f fiF' IS - ' of kjj ptj Z -V' J. ',Y I V) j Andrea HoyDaily Nebraskan Nebraska fullback Ken Kaelin is stopped by Missouri defensive end Dick Chapura (74) while Tigers Jeff Cross (91) and Gary Justis move in to assist. Nebraska's Rob Maggard (72) has already been taken out of the play. his shots in there." Knox has been timed at 4.44 seconds in the 40-yard dash. Missouri scored with 5:28 left in the game on a 4-yard pass from Tiger quarterback Jeff Hen ningsen, a 1983 graduate of Omaha Burke High School, to cut Nebraska's lead to 48-9. Hen ningsen's 2-point conversion pass failed. Two minutes later, Missouri scored on a 50 yard pass from Henningsen to Robert Delphino. Herbert Johnson then ran for the 2-point conver sion to make the final score 48-17. The Tigers gained 171 yards rushing and 122 yards passing against Nebraska. Henningsen completed nine of 20 passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns. He also had two passes inter cepted by Charles Fryer and Chris Carr. Nebraska defense was led by linebacker Marc Munford, who recorded 10 stops. Safety Brian Siebler and end Broderick Thomas each added eight tackles. "We tightened up on the second and third series'," Thomas said. "When we get going full blast, it's all over." "It was just another day at the office. . .when the copier broke down," said linebacker Kevin Parsons of the game. , t J i mm J J L , II Andrea HoyDaily Nebraskan Watch that Tiger! Nebraska I-back Keith Jones breaks loose for a 16-yard gain Saturday agsinst Missouri. Jones gained 73 yards and scored two touchdowns on 15 carries during Nebraska's 4S-17 win. Tigers laud Nebraska Henningsen fulfills lifelong dream By Tim Hartmann Staff Reporter After losing 48-17 to Nebraska Sat urday, the Missouri players left Lincoln with nothing but praise for the Corn huskers. "I can't compliment them enough," Missouri coach Woody Widenhofer said. "I think they're an excellent football team." In fact, Widenhofer and several Mis souri players think that this year's Nebraska team is better than last year's national champion, Oklahoma. "You can stop the wishbone for the most part, but if you stop Nebraska's option they can come at you with so many other things," Widenhofer said. "They have a great offense and a great defense." Outland Trophy candidate John Clay agreed. "I'd probably say they are better (than Oklahoma)," Clay, a 6-5, 285 pound offensive tackle said. "I think before we played them they were giving up inches, not yards. They're real -aggressive." Clay, who played his offensive tackle position with a heavily wrapped left hand due to two broken bones, said that despite the Tiger's 1-5 start this season, he is still glad he came to Missouri. "I'd do it all over again," he said. "We've got Kansas State (next week) and we're concentrating on them. We're just going to take them one game at a time." Quarterback Jeff Henningsen, a jun ior and a 1983 graduate of Omaha Burke High School, said he was very impressed with Nebraska. "I think Nebraska is the best team I've played against or seen since I've been at Missouri," he said. Henningsen said the Tiger's first drive, a 16-play, 68-yard possession that ended on a 29-yard Tom Whelihan field goal, gave the team some needed confidence. "As far as confidence, I thing it helped us," he said. "I felt real good. We were moving the ball real well." During his high-school years, Hen ningsen attended many Nebraska games, so playing in Memorial Stadium was a thrill for him, he said. "It was a lifetime dream," Hen ningsen said. "I wasn't particularly nervous because I've been here so many times. Getting to play in this stadium was something, though. It was really exciting for me." Husker coaches had asked Henning sen to walk on at Nebraska after his career at Burke, but he opted for Mis souri instead. "My senior year they (Nebraska) gave four quarterbacks scholarships and I though I might get caught in the crowd." Widenhofer said that Henningsen and the whole Missouri team gave a good effort. "Jeff played as hard as you can play," he said. "When you play that hard and still go into halftime behind 20-3, it's tough on your players." Widenhofer said the Tigers were hurt by Nebraska's score just before the first half ended. The Huskers drove 46 yards and scored on a 28-yard run by Ken Kaelin with just 38 seconds left. "We were in the ball game for two quarters except for the last 55 seconds," he said. "We blitzed and (quarterback Steve) Taylor made a great audible (on Kaelin's touchdown). It would have been really nice to come off the field 13-3 at half, but that touchdown really took the starch out of us." Widenhofer said that the only way to compete with Nebraska is to recruit great skilled position players. "We responded for a while, but we just don't have enough depth and skilled players right now to compete with Nebraska," Widenhofer said. "The two great football players we recruited, the last two years, (running back) Tony Van Zant and (quarterback) Ronnie Cameron, are not playing. You need great skilled people to beat Nebraska."